By Irma Widjojo

Ten Benicia middle school students will soon pack their bags to face the best of the best at a nation-wide mathematics competition April 25 in Chicago.

Though they only have a week left before the trip, the group still needs to raise at least $4,100 to cover the lodging and transportation, and they are reaching out to the community.

“Without the support from the community and the school, these kids might not have been able to go,” said Lori With, head of the math department at Benicia Middle School.

Out of almost 45,000 fifth to 12th graders, from more than 330 schools in 42 states, the top 700 have been selected to compete at the finals, and 10 of them will come from Benicia. They have qualified for the finals because they tested in the top 1.6 percent in the nation in math, With said.

via Ten Benicia middle schoolers need fund to attend national math competition.